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This old fashioned Sweet Potato Pie recipe is a delicious alternative to pumpkin pie for the holidays. Fresh sweet potatoes and a cozy blend of seasonings create this irresistible holiday dessert.
Round out your holiday dessert menu with Bourbon Pecan Pie and Chocolate Cream Pie.
There is no need to hunt down those cans of pumpkin purée this holiday season because this fresh Sweet Potato Pie should be on your menu. It is all about REAL fresh ingredients, it’s easy to make, and it is fabulous!
All the diehard pie lovers in this house are all about this pie. It has the most delightful dense, creamy texture and is infused with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves to create that classic, down-home holiday flavor.
Another awesome component to this Sweet Potato Pie recipe is that it is best made a day in advance and refrigerated overnight. Get it out of the way and check if off the list!
Table of contents
- Ingredient Notes
- The Best Sweet Potatoes for Pie
- The Best Pie Crust
- How to Make Sweet Potato Pie
- Boil the Sweet Potatoes
- Make the Sweet Potato Pie Filling
- Assemble and Bake
- Cool and Serve
- More Holiday Dessert Ideas You’ll Love
Ingredient Notes
- Sweet potatoes – See the section below for my tips on how to choose sweet potatoes.
- Butter – Melted and slightly cooled.
- Sugar – Both granulated sugar and dark brown sugar.
- Eggs
- Half and half
- Pure vanilla extract
- Spices – Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves add that distinct holiday flavor.
- Salt
- Pie crust – Either made from scratch or store-bought.
The Best Sweet Potatoes for Pie
Orange or red-skinned sweet potatoes like Red Garnet or Jewel are the best choice for baking. They both have a deep orange flesh and a moist, creamy texture. They may be labelled as “yams” at the store which can be confusing but they are actually sweet potatoes and they are the best choice for pies as well as your other traditional Thanksgiving sweet potato dishes.
Sweet potatoes can vary greatly in size so use the scale in the produce department to weigh them and be sure you have at least 1½ pounds. Sometimes one great big sweet potato can be enough but most likely you will need two.
The Best Pie Crust
I recommend making your own crust, if you’ve got the time, but a store bought crust will work just fine too. The instructions for a single crust pie pastry are on the recipe card below but for detailed step-by-step instructions check out my post for Easy Food Processor Pie Crust.
Your pie crust can be made a couple of days in advance to save you time on pie baking day.
How to Make Sweet Potato Pie
This is a quick overview of how to make this recipe. You’ll find detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Boil the Sweet Potatoes
- Place the unpeeled sweet potatoes in a large pot and add enough water so they are covered by at least 1-inch. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat, cover, and cook until the sweet potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife. Transfer sweet potatoes to a colander and rinse with cold water until they are cool enough to handle.
- Use paper towels to pull the skins off the sweet potatoes and pat them dry with paper towels. You don’t want a lot of excess moisture so be sure they are as dry as possible.
- Place the sweet potatoes in a large mixing bowl.
Make the Sweet Potato Pie Filling
- Mix the sweet potatoes until well mashed.
- Add the melted butter, the granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, half-and-half and vanilla and mix again to combine.
- Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
Assemble and Bake
- Mix until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into the pie crust, smoothing the top with the back of a spoon.
- Bake as directed until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. The filling may be a bit puffed up but it will settle down as it cools.
Cool and Serve
Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool completely before transferring it to the refrigerator. Chill the pie for several hours or even better, overnight, before serving.
Although delicious all by itself, I can’t serve Sweet Potato Pie in this house without freshly whipped cream.
More Holiday Dessert Ideas You’ll Love
- Classic Pumpkin Pie
- Creamy Layered Pumpkin Dessert
- Old Fashioned Banana Cream Pie
- Easy Cream Puff Dessert
- Praline Pumpkin Pie
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Sweet Potato Pie
5 from 7 votes
This old fashioned Sweet Potato Pie recipe is a delicious alternative to pumpkin pie for the holidays. Fresh sweet potatoes and a cozy blend of seasonings create this irresistible holiday dessert.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Valerie Brunmeier
Keyword: sweet potato pie
Print RecipePin RecipeRate Recipe
Prep Time:45 minutes
Cook Time:55 minutes
Chilling Time:3 hours
Total Time:4 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 8
Ingredients
9-inch Single Crust Pie Pastry
- 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, very cold
- 3 tablespoons shortening regular or butter flavored, very cold
- 1½ teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 to 4 tablespoons ice water
Sweet Potato Pie Filling
- 1½ pounds red or orange-skinned sweet potatoes, like Red Garnet or Jewel
- ⅓ cup butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- ½ cup half and half
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Freshly Whipped Cream
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
For the Pie Crust
Place the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor. and pulse 4 or 5 times until combined.
Cut butter and shortening into small pieces. Add to the flour and process about 20 seconds or until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add the vinegar and 2 tablespoons water and pulse about 6 times. Add additional water a little at a time and pulse until mixture begins to hold together. You may not need to use all the water.
Remove pastry from the food processor bowl, form into a ball and place it on a sheet of plastic wrap. Flatten the ball slightly with your hand and wrap the flattened pie pastry in the plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to two days.
When ready to roll out, remove the pastry from the refrigerator and let it rest on the counter for about 10 to 15 minutes. Lightly flour a large board and using a rolling pin, roll the pastry out in a circle about ⅛-inch thick until it is large enough to fit your pie plate, with about 1-inch of pastry going beyond the rim of the plate. Press the pastry gently down into the plate and then evenly trim the edges to about ½-inch of the edge of the pan with a sharp knife. Tuck the top edge of crust over and under and crimp or flute the edges.
Refrigerate until you are ready to add the filling.
For the Sweet Potato Pie Filling
Place the sweet potatoes in a large pot and add enough water so they are covered by at least 1-inch. Bring to a boil over HIGH heat. Reduce the heat to MEDIUM, cover and cook until the sweet potatoes are tender all the way through when pierced with a sharp knife, about 30 minutes (this can take longer depending on the size of your potatoes). Drain and run under cold water until cool enough to handle. Use paper towels to pull the skins off the sweet potatoes. Allow any excess water to drain off and pat them dry with paper towels (potatoes should be as dry as possible). Place them in a large mixing bowl.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Using an electric mixer on LOW speed, mix the sweet potatoes until well mashed. Add the melted butter, the granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and half-and-half, and vanilla and mix again to combine. Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt and mix again until smooth.
Pour the mixture into the pie crust, smoothing the top with the back of a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees F and bake for an additional 40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool completely before transferring it to the refrigerator. Chill for several hours or even better, overnight, before serving.
For the Whipped Cream
Use a metal bowl if you have one and place it and the metal beaters from your electric hand mixer in the freezer for about 30 minutes or more before starting.
Pour the cream into the cold bowl, and using a hand mixer, whip it with the sugar until medium peaks form, about 4 to 5 minutes.
Serve with freshly whipped cream. Store leftovers in refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition information is for 1 slice of pie without whipped cream.
Best Sweet Potatoes for Pie
Orange or red-skinned sweet potatoes like Red Garnet or Jewel are the best choice for baking. They both have a deep orange flesh and a moist, creamy texture. They may be labelled as “yams” at the store which can be confusing but they are actually sweet potatoes and they are the best choice for pies as well as your other traditional Thanksgiving sweet potato dishes.
Sweet potatoes can vary greatly in size so use the scale in the produce department to weigh them and be sure you have at least 1 1/2 pounds. Sometimes one great big sweet potato can be enough but most likely you will need two.
Make it Ahead
This pie requires at least 3 or 4 hours to chill completely. I recommend making it a day in advance and refrigerating it overnight.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 slice · Calories: 447 kcal · Carbohydrates: 60 g · Protein: 6 g · Fat: 21 g · Saturated Fat: 11 g · Cholesterol: 82 mg · Sodium: 271 mg · Potassium: 478 mg · Fiber: 4 g · Sugar: 32 g · Vitamin A: 16871 IU · Vitamin C: 17 mg · Calcium: 76 mg · Iron: 2 mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
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FAQs
Did Mrs Smith discontinue sweet potato pie? ›
Smith pies they were a family favorite, after looking all over for them since last November with no luck, I have learned they have been discontinued.
Does Sam's Club have sweet potato pies? ›About this item
Sweet Potato Pie is a delicious southern favorite made with tender sweet potatoes and a special blend of spices in a tender flaky crust. This product is covered by the Sam's Club Member Satisfaction Guarantee. "Membership is required to complete an in-club or curbside pickup purchase at Sam's Club."
Patti LaBelle 8 inch Sweet Potato Pie 21 oz, 1 Count - Walmart.com.
Who makes sweet potato pies for Walmart? ›Kinna Thomas, Creator of Patti LaBelle Sweet Potato Pies, Credits Her Success To Her HBCU Experience. Kinna Thomas is currently a Senior Buying Manager (Director) for Cakes and Pies at Walmart Stores, Inc. She has a multitude of experience in merchandising and manufacturing.
What was Elvis's favorite pie? ›Let me start by saying, The King would LOVE this peanut butter pie! Elvis Pie, indeed. I used my favorite crisp peanut-butter cookie recipe for the crust.
What pies does Costco currently have? ›...
Aside from apple pie, here are the other types of pies at Costco:
- Costco Pumpkin Pie.
- Costco Pecan Pie.
- (Frozen section) Costco Apple Pie Rolls.
- Costco Chicken Pot Pie.
- Costco Shepherd's Pie.
And the vote is in: America's favorite pie is apple pie. As we wrote about in our blog on the history of apple pie, today's apple pie is quite unlike the delicious dessert's predecessor. In fact, the pies were once made with hard, inedible crusts that simply served to preserve the pie's contents.
Does Trader Joes have sweet potato pie? ›Willie's Sweet Potato Pie | Trader Joe's.
Does Mrs Smith make sweet potato pies? ›The perfect blend of sweet potatoes and spices give MRS. SMITH's Original Flaky Crust Sweet Potato Pie the flavor you'll love. The light, flaky crust, made with a touch of real butter, is a delicious complement to our signature filling that will keep guests coming back for more.
How do you thicken a sweet potato pie? ›Again you may use your food processor if you like. If the mixture is too runny add flour a tablespoon at a time to thicken it up until the mixture is almost like an applesauce consistency.
What brings out the flavor of sweet potatoes? ›
While sweet potatoes taste delicious with just a sprinkle of salt and pepper, a little extra seasoning really elevates the flavor. If you're looking to add a warming, savory vibe to this recipe try roasting with a blend of cumin, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper.
What state produces the most sweet potato pie? ›North Carolina: Sweet potato pie
The state has good reason to be proud of its sweet potatoes; it has been the largest producer of the vegetable in the US since 197. Hence the choice for sweet potato pie.
Growing sweet potatoes for Walmart is a full-time, year-round job for Terris and Kim Matthews of Wynne, a city tucked away in Cross County near the northeastern edge of Arkansas. Their venture, Matthews Ridgeview Farms, has grown sweet potatoes commercially for Walmart for 21 years.
Does Kroger have sweet potato pies? ›Private Selection™ Sweet Potato Pie, 12 in / 52 oz - Kroger.
What was Martin Luther King's favorite pie? ›King and in recognition of his birthday, we'd like to share a recipe for his favorite dessert: pecan pie. Many historical sources share that pecan pie – not ice cream, and not cake! – was King's favorite treat.
What is Queen Elizabeth's favorite pie? ›One way we might honor and celebrate those who have passed is by cooking and enjoying their favorite foods. Former royal chef Darren McGrady has revealed one of Queen Elizabeth's favorite sweet dishes, known as Chocolate Perfection Pie, and has generously shared the recipe, which we're happy to pass on to you.
What was Michael Jackson's favorite pie? ›As the story goes, Jackson, the seventh of nine children, had a penchant for sweet potato pie.
What is Gordon Ramsay's favorite pie? ›The thing that really sets Gordon Ramsay's apple pie apart from the rest, is the sweet, sugary caramelized apples.
What is the #1 dessert in America? ›The Number 1 Most Popular Desserts in America are Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Which Costco pie is the best? ›"Costco Pumpkin pie is my favorite. Maybe not quite mom's, but way better than any other store bought pie I've tried." High praise, indeed! Costco superfan CostCuisine describes the flavor of the cherished pie, stating that it's "The filling is soft, sweet and has slight hints of nutmeg and cinnamon.
Why is Costco apple pie so good? ›
What's So Great About Costco's Apple Pie? Costco's apple pie is one of the best grocery store apple pies I've tasted. The filling is packed with hearty bites of fresh apple in a not-too-sweet syrup flecked with warm cinnamon. As a crust-lover, the pastry is actually the most eye-opening part of the pie.
Why are Costco pumpkin pies so good? ›Totally free of preservatives, the pies contain eggs, water and a dry mix of ingredients like sugar and spices in addition to the twice-cooked pumpkin puree. These are the Kirkland items you should always be buying at Costco.
What is Florida's favorite pie? ›Florida's Favorite Pie – Key Lime.
Which pie has the most sugar? ›In the pumpkin pie, calories and saturated fat are lower while protein and calcium are higher. But the apple pie takes the cake when it comes to fiber, sugar (both total and added) and sodium. So what's a pie aficionado to do?
What state eats the most pie? ›The data was collected by evaluating which states saw more pie orders in 2018 when compared to the rest of the country. In the top slot? Nebraska.
Does Marie Callender's have sweet potato pies? ›...
Sweet Potato Pie.
| % Daily Value | ||
|---|---|---|
| Calcium | 101 mg | 10% |
| Carbohydrate | 35 g | 12% |
| Cholesterol | 60 mg | 20% |
| Total Fat | 17 g | 26% |
Calorie Burn Time
How long would it take to burn off 350 Calories of Popeye's Hot Sweet Potato Pie? Based on a 35 year old female who is 5'7" tall and weighs 144 lbs.
The simple answer is yes! While pumpkin is still a nutritious food and a good choice for carb-watchers, the sweet potato has more nutrients. The sweet potato pie comes out on top as the nutritious winner. However, if the texture is a top priority, most people will agree that pumpkin pie reigns supreme.
What is the number 1 pie eaten at Thanksgiving? ›Pumpkin pie is Americans' top choice for a Thanksgiving pie — with pecan pie, apple pie, and sweet potato pie right behind it.
What pie sells the most at Thanksgiving? ›Not surprisingly, pumpkin pie is America's top choice. In fact, demand for this particular type of pie jumped a whopping 316 percent in the days leading up to Thanksgiving in 2021.
Does Patti LaBelle make sweet potato pie? ›
A delicious Southern pie made with simple ingredients, Sweet Potato Pie is the ultimate traditional treat! Miss Patti's signature pie is made with flavorful Louisiana yams, sweet butter, creamy half and half, and warm spice!
What is the most popular pie in Michigan? ›Though pumpkin pie is a holiday classic, some will prepare pecan, cherry, apple, chocolate, and more to widen the variety of deserts served to family and friends. According to data sourced from Wise Voter, the most popular pie in all of Michigan is apple pie. This pie is also the favorite pie of 13 other states.
What Singer sells sweet potato pies? ›Patti LaBelle talks retiring: 'I can never stop singing'
"I just put a little twist to it — a baby Patti twist." With her famous sweet potato pie selling out at Walmart, LaBelle has developed a pretty good reputation as a pie maker.
Amanda Smith started by baking pies for family, friends and charity events, but when her son, Robert Smith, convinced her to sell her pies, a business was born. Today, we continue the tradition started by Amanda Smith, delivering pies with made-from-scratch goodness you can see and taste.
Does Kroger sell Mrs Smith's pies? ›Smith's® Original Flaky Crust Apple Pie, 37 oz - Kroger.
What is the most popular pie in Minnesota? ›According to data sourced from Wise Voter, the most popular pie in all of Minnesota is sweet potato pie. This pie is also the favorite pie of 2 other states.
Who makes the pies for McDonald's? ›All of the pies sold at US McDonald's are made in Tulsa. For more than 50 years, all the pies sold in US McDonald's have been made exclusively at Bama Companies in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Bama also makes biscuits and hotcakes for the fast-food chain.)
What is the least healthy pie? ›Pecan pie has been gracing Thanksgiving tables for decades because, well, it's hard to beat the classics. But a single slice can contain more than 500 calories, 27 grams of fat and 31 grams of sugar.